Popular country music band Sawyer Brown coming to the Ren on Saturday

MANSFIELD - In their early days, members of Sawyer Brown said there were no gigs they wouldn't take, even playing pig roasts.

The country music band has come a long since then, releasing 23 albums and charting with more than 50 singles.

Sawyer Brown will play the Renaissance Theatre at 8 p.m. Saturday. The DeVault Ridge Band, a local act, will open the show.

"Sawyer Brown is one of the heavy-hitters in the country music industry, having toured for decades and claiming numerous awards. We're thrilled to have them in Mansfield, and the slim number of tickets left is indicative that the Renaissance team isn't alone in our excitement," said Colleen Cook, director of marketing and communications for the Renaissance.

The first five members of Sawyer Brown formed in 1981 in Apopka, Florida. They had been the road band for singer Don King.

In 1983, Sawyer Brown auditioned for the TV show "Star Search." The band won the $100,000 grand prize and a record contract.

Originally known as a country pop band, Sawyer Brown changed its sound in 1991, adding ballads to its repertoire.

Sawyer Brown has three No. 1 singles to its credit, as well as a number of awards. The band won the Horizon Award from the Country Music Association in 1985.

In addition, Sawyer Brown earned Vocal Group of the Year in 1997 from the Academy of Country Music.

But it's all about performing — going back to those pig roasts — for Sawyer Brown. The band is known for its aggressive tour schedule, having played more than 4,500 shows.

Sawyer Brown has been described as "the Rolling Stones of country music."

"It's playing the next show," lead singer Mark Miller said in a news release. "Be grateful for where you've been and be excited about where you're going."

That attitude has helped the band stay humble.

"We knew that we wanted to play music, and we knew that we wanted to work at being the best live band there was," Miller said. "The only way to do that was to get out and play shows. And so we did."